https://www.ccffi.org/home daily 1.0 2022-03-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/1640991213464-ATTRFUIG9A8NQJ17WYGI/unsplash-image-cC3b-XeAvNE.jpg Home - Education As part of the leading Fly-Fishing Education organization in the world, the Chesapeake Council of FFI and its member clubs are proud to provide instruction to the general public. Whether you are a seasoned angler, or a complete beginner, you have a home with us. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/1640990108501-K3XYLWKRTEV4LPTRS9UH/unsplash-image-1SaIX65PVJA.jpg Home - Conservation The Chesapeake Council advocates for the health of our region’s streams, rivers, estuaries and the Atlantic Ocean. Stemming from FFI’s motto of “All Fish, All Waters”, we work to ensure the health of the diverse fisheries that our members rely on for recreation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/7a71257e-4c71-4db8-9f9d-bdef2b547a0e/Project-Healing-Waters-Fly-Fishing.jpeg Home - Find Your Club Interested in getting involved? Find an FFI Club in your area. https://www.ccffi.org/get-involved daily 0.75 2022-01-05 https://www.ccffi.org/make-a-donation daily 0.75 2022-01-05 https://www.ccffi.org/conservation daily 0.75 2022-03-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/ac4fe179-55f5-43fe-8021-3429d1c5838d/stripedbass.jpg Conservation - Support Striped Bass - ASMFC Public Comment Period We are asking all FFI Members to submit public comments to the Striped Bass Management Committee of the Atlantic State Marine Fisheries Commission concerning Draft Amendment 7 to the Interstate Fishery Management Plan for Atlantic Striped Bass. In order to participate, you may attend a public hearing or send in your comments to ASMFC by April 15. Email comments@asmfc.org with the subject line “Amendment 7.” In particular, we are asking members to make their voices heard on the following four issues. The Council’s positions are listed below, and we encourage members to consider supporting these positions as well. 4.1 Management Triggers Tier 1: Fishing Mortality (F) triggers Option A: Timeline to Reduce F to the Target CCFFI Supports Sub-option A1 (current management): Reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within one year. Option B: F Threshold Triggers CCFFI Supports Sub-option B1 (current management): If F exceeds the F threshold, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within the timeframe selected under Option A. Option C: F Target Triggers CCFFI Supports Sub-option C1 (current management): If F exceeds the F target for two consecutive years and female SSB falls below the SSB target in either of those years, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to reduce F to a level that is at or below the target within the timeframe selected under sub-option A. Tier 2: Spawning Stock Biomass Triggers Option A: Deadline to Implement a Rebuilding Plan CCFFI Supports Sub-option A2: Two-Year Deadline to Implement a Rebuilding Plan. The Board must implement a rebuilding plan within two years from when an SSB-based management trigger is tripped. Option B: SSB Threshold Trigger CCFFI Supports Sub-option B1 (current management): If female SSB falls below the SSB threshold, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to rebuild the biomass to the target level within an established timeframe [not to exceed 10 years]. Option C: SSB Target Trigger CCFFI Supports Sub-option C1 (current management): If female SSB falls below the target for two consecutive years and the fishing mortality rate exceeds the target in either of those years, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to rebuild the biomass to a level that is at or above the target within an established timeframe [not to exceed 10-years]. Tier 3: Recruitment Triggers Option A: Recruitment Trigger Definition CCFFI Supports Sub-option A2: The recruitment trigger is tripped when any of the four Juvenile Abundance Indices (JAIs) used in the stock assessment model to estimate recruitment (NY, NJ, MD, VA) shows an index value that is below 75% of all values (i.e., below the 25th percentile) in the respective Juvenile Abundance Index from 1992-2006 (which represents a period of high recruitment) for three consecutive years. Option B: Management Response to Recruitment Trigger CCFFI Supports Sub-option B2: If the recruitment trigger is tripped, an interim F target calculated using the low recruitment assumption is implemented, and if F from the terminal year of the most recent stock assessment is above the interim F target, the striped bass management program must be adjusted to reduce F to the interim F target within one year. Tier 4: Deferred Management Action CCFFI Supports Option A (current management): No Deferred Management Action. If any (or all) of the management triggers are tripped following a benchmark stock assessment or assessment update, the Board is required to respond to that trigger regardless of when the last management action was implemented in response to any management trigger. 4.2.2 Measures to Address Recreational Release Mortality CCFFI Supports Sub-option C1: Recreational anglers would be prohibited from using any device other than a nonlethal device to remove a striped bass from the water or assist in the releasing of a striped bass. CCFFI Supports Sub-option C2: Striped bass caught on any unapproved method of take would be returned to the water immediately without unnecessary injury. Option D. Outreach and Education CCFFI Supports Sub-option D2: It is recommended states continue to promote best striped bass handling and release practices by developing public education and outreach campaigns. States should provide updates on public education and outreach efforts in annual state compliance reports. Best practices could include those listed in sub-option D1. 4.4 Rebuilding Plan 4.4.1 Recruitment Assumption for Rebuilding Calculation CCFFI Supports Option B: Rebuild female SSB to the SSB target level by no later than 2029. F rebuild is calculated to achieve the SSB target by no later than 2029 using the low recruitment regime assumption as identified by the change point analysis. 4.4.2 Rebuilding Plan Framework CCFFI Supports Option B: If the 2022 stock assessment results indicate the Amendment 7 measures have less than a 50% probability of rebuilding the stock by 2029 (as calculated using the recruitment assumption specified in Amendment 7) and if the stock assessment indicates at least a 5% reduction in removals is needed to achieve F rebuild, the Board may adjust measures to achieve F rebuild via Board action. 4.6.2 Management Program Equivalency Option B. Restrict the Use of Conservation Equivalency Based on Stock Status CCFFI Supports Sub-option B1-a: CE programs would not be approved when the stock is at or below the biomass threshold (i.e., overfished). CE programs would not be considered until a subsequent stock assessment indicates stock biomass is above the threshold level. Option C. Precision Standards for MRIP Estimates Used in Conservation Equivalency Proposals CCFFI Supports Sub-option C3: CE proposals would not be able to use Marine Recreational Information Program (MRIP) estimates associated with a percent standard error (PSE) exceeding 30%. Option D. Conservation Equivalency Uncertainty Buffer for Non-Quota Managed Fisheries CCFFI Supports Sub-option D2: Proposed CE programs for non-quota managed fisheries would be required to include an uncertainty buffer of 25%. Option E. Definition of Equivalency for CE Proposals with Non-Quota Managed Fisheries CCFFI Supports Sub-option E2: the percent reduction/liberalization projected for the FMP standard at the state-specific level. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/1647310065769-VHPKS3HJIQ1DK93WVFEK/bowfin.jpeg Conservation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/1647311136889-2QMOFK13ELB5B66HS0JV/sea-background-ocean-waters-thumbnail.jpeg Conservation https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/1647311211388-A5XC40RT6VAR9OBTV3C4/8TroutTripsRapidan.jpeg Conservation https://www.ccffi.org/education daily 0.75 2022-03-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/e10b3bb9-8aa1-497b-b41a-fa18ea8ca2d5/IMGP8505.JPG Education https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/1641423313984-S6DP30ZC5GS5P2SGALAU/unsplash-image-Bt_J-VvC9-A.jpg Education https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/d99ca662-a7e8-46da-a7dd-a77087609d31/14222711945_106ab81b20_b.jpeg Education https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/61cf80a439abc46e048d928e/1641423193627-W827FHHM6Y5IWWMYSHMO/unsplash-image-DNibJZtJ92E.jpg Education